South Sudan Clarifies Orders Targeting Kenyan Traders and Other Foreigners

South Sudan has clarified reports that foreign traders were given seven days to leave the country, saying the claim was false after remarks on foreign participation in small-scale retail businesses caused concern among traders.

Juba County Caretaker Commissioner Moulana Kalisto Lado Faustino Nyigilo said he had not ordered foreigners to leave South Sudan and explained that he lacked the authority to remove them from the country.

“The Commissioner has never said that, and it’s even not the mandate of the Commissioner to actually evacuate people or to send people out of South Sudan,” Lado said.

The commissioner issued the clarification after reports circulated following his remarks on foreign nationals operating small-scale businesses in Juba County.

During an inspection of Kubri Haboba Market on Monday, October 5, Lado said foreign nationals should not operate businesses such as chapati stalls, small retail shops selling food items and boda boda operations.

South Sudan Explains Foreign Trader Restrictions

Instead, Lado said foreign nationals who want to invest in South Sudan should focus on wholesale trade, companies, factories and other larger ventures that can create employment for South Sudanese.

“Our policy is welcoming. We are welcoming everybody from any country who want to come to be with us in South Sudan,” he said.

At the same time, the commissioner explained that his remarks targeted foreign participation in retail trade rather than foreign nationals generally.

“I made a statement during my cleaning campaign and organizational campaign in Kubri Haboba, and my statement was, one, the foreigners should not be trading in retail business. Let them do the wholesale,” he said.

Lado also questioned how the growing involvement of foreign nationals in small businesses could affect South Sudanese youth seeking similar opportunities.

“If the thousands of foreigners who are with us here have now gone to riding boda boda, then what will our youth do?” he asked.

Beyond boda boda operations, he raised concerns about foreign women selling everyday food items in local markets.

“If the women who have come here from the other countries are now trading on chapati, selling potatoes, selling onions, selling tomatoes, then what will our own women be selling?” he said.

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Commissioner Rejects Claims of Expulsion

However, Lado rejected any interpretation of his remarks as an order for foreigners to leave South Sudan or a ban on foreign investment.

“There is nothing about sending foreigners out of South Sudan. There is nothing about prohibiting foreigners from business. There is nothing about hating foreigners,” he said.

Rather than calling for foreign businesses to leave, Lado urged investors to bring substantial capital into South Sudan and establish ventures that can create jobs.

“Come with capital for business, huge capital for establishing companies or opening or constructing industries or factories that will produce goods that will help our people and that will also employ our people,” Lado said.

Furthermore, the commissioner told foreign nationals to follow South Sudanese laws while conducting their activities in the country.

“Foreigners, we are not sending people out. We are welcoming people, but people who are welcome have to live according to the law,” he said.

Seven-Day Deadline Targeted Roadside Businesses

Separately, the seven-day deadline mentioned in the reports concerned businesses and structures occupying road reserves, not an order requiring foreigners to leave South Sudan.

As part of the road reorganisation exercise, Lado directed roadside businesses to vacate road reserves within seven days and move to rightful locations.

Also Read: Sudan War Deepens Economic Crisis as Omdurman Traders Strike Over New Restrictions

The county also required roadside and open-stall operators to comply with licensing and structural requirements as authorities reorganised businesses operating in restricted areas.

Meanwhile, Lado explained that the exercise focused on organising roads and removing obstructions rather than indiscriminate demolitions.

“We are not demolishing structures. We are organising the road, taking garbage out of the road and sending those who are putting their booths on the road to be in the rightful places,” he said.

He also urged foreign nationals already in South Sudan not to panic over the reports as long as they comply with the law.

“Our foreigners who are here, be peaceful. No fear, no worry, unless if you commit any crime,” he said.

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Photo of Juba County Caretaker Commissioner Moulana Kalisto Lado Faustino Nyigilo speaking during an address, where he clarifies orders targeting foreign traders. PHOTO/ Screengrab